Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) as an Emerging Prebiotic: Microbial Synthesis, Utilization, Structural Characterization, Bioactive Properties, and Applications

Abstract

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) have great prebiotic potential and can be incorporated into many food products. XOS seem to exert their nutritional benefits in various animal species, which by definition have an intestinal tract populated by a complex, bacterial intestinal ecosystem. The production of XOS on an industrial scale is carried out from lignocellulosic materials (LCMs) rich in xylan by chemical and enzymatic methods and the latter is preferred in the food industry because of the lack of undesirable side reactions and products. The information available does not provide an exact explanation about the bioactive effects of XOS. Their fermentation results in the acidification of the colonic contents and the formation of short chain fatty acids that serve as fuels in different tissues and may play a role in the regulation of cellular processes. Only data from small trials are currently available to support use of XOS in the treatment of different clinical scenarios. Numerous questions about the molecular mechanisms of action or clinical indications of XOS and other prebiotics remain unanswered. This article presents XOS as an emerging prebiotic with more emphasis on its microbial production, structural characterization, and bioactive properties.

Hot water treatment of hardwood kraft pulp produces high-purity cellulose and polymeric xylan

“…The potential applications of xylan-based compounds strongly depend on their physico-chemical properties. Neutral XOS with DPs 2-6 can be utilized as dietary fibers (prebiotics), since they promote the growth of microbiota living in the human colon and exhibiting beneficial healtheffects (Aachary and Prapulla 2011;Deutschmann and Dekker 2012). Neutral polymeric xylan may be used as a multifunctional food ingredient, because it improves several technological properties (i.e., texture, water retention) in dairy products and shows a slow fermentation rate, which enhances intestinal comfort (Rosa-Sibakov et al 2016).…”

Prebiotic Dietary Fiber and Gut Health: Comparing the In Vitro Fermentations of Beta-Glucan, Inulin and Xylooligosaccharide.

“…XOS is an emerging prebiotic with well-displayed, consistent health benefits [8] and is composed of sugar oligomers composed of xylose units [9], found naturally in fruits, vegetables, milk, honey and bamboo shoots. XOS is commonly produced from xylan containing lignocellulosic materials through various chemical methods, direct enzymatic hydrolysis, or a combination of both treatments [10][11][12][13][14].…”

Antioxidant property of synbiotic combination of Lactobacillus sp. and wheat bran xylo-oligosaccharides

“…Wang and Lu (2013) reported the extraction of XOS from wheat bran by microwave assisted enzymatic hydrolysis. XOS are reported to possess prebiotic, immunomodulatory, anticancerous, antimicrobial, growth regulatory and antioxidant properties (Aachary and Prapulla 2011).…”